Just bought a condo.

[Jerry1]

After living in a house all my life and on an acre or more for the past 35 years, at 64, I’m moving into a condo. It’s a significant life change for DW and I and we’re hopeful that we take well to it. We’re looking at this as our last step before some sort of assisted living. This step should take DW into her 80’s and I’m 5 years behind. We’re thinking that 10 to 15 years would be good. If we live out our years there, that would be fine as well.

While we’re giving up land and some level of privacy, we realize that we predominantly live our lives indoors. In that regard, the indoor space of the condo is nicer than our current or past digs. It’s needs some updating, but the space (2100 sq ft) is a bit bigger than any of our other homes and the layout is much more suited to our current lifestyle. Of note is a larger, nicer master bedroom suite, vaulted ceilings, a great view (especially for a condo complex), and an upstairs (it’s basically a cape cod with the master on the first floor) with a loft area and a really interesting and large bedroom along with another bathroom.

I'm excited to be giving up grounds and building maintenance and concentrate on the indoors. I’m also excited to remodel our third home and have great hopes that the third time will be a charm. We’re also moving a bit closer to an area we often visit that is close to our shopping, dining and medical facilities yet not really any further from or daughters and grand children.

Excitement and a bit of nervousness are certainly in play but I look forward to this next phase in our lives together and hope I am doing well to lay the groundwork for our years of going a bit slower (aging).

 

[Ronstar]

Congrats on the new digs!

 

[aja8888]

Congrats! You will love it!

 

[rk911]

Congratulations and i hope the change works out.

We're in early stages of "what's next". We're in what we hoped would be our forever home but as we get older likely not. We do NOT wamt to share walls (or floors or ceilings) with anyone but that may be an unrealistic goal.

 

[Jerry1]

Congratulations and i hope the change works out.

We're in early stages of "what's next". We're in what we hoped would be our forever home but as we get older likely not. We do NOT want to share walls (or floors or ceilings) with anyone but that may be an unrealistic goal.

This is probably very market specific but what we found led us to consider a condo over a single family house (SFH). The SFH’s around here are old and just don’t have the floor plan that appealed to us. If you want a 1000 sq ft three bedroom brick ranch, there is plenty of them. But even as we got up to 2000 sq ft, the old style home just did not allocate space to the master bedroom suite. You get larger gathering spaces. Of course, you can go out and buy new, but we live in an older suburban area and the new houses are miles away and many dollars more expensive. Conversely, a good amount of condos were set up in a very desirable way for what we wanted. 2000 sq ft condos have a nice master suite, a den or office and another bedroom and full bathroom. In our area, there are a couple well established condo communities that we focused on and were finally able to get one. As I said, it needs updating, but the bones are very good and the association reputation is also very good. It’s a four unit building and we did “settle” for a middle unit - so we share two walls. No one lives above or below us.

Handling this next phase is hard and I would have preferred a SFH. However, I’m hopeful that we can make this work. We certainly won’t be doing any significant remodeling for a year or so as we evaluate this new (to us) way of living. Worth noting is that I have an illness that, while I’m optimistic, it seems likely I will not be around for DW as long as I had hoped, even being 5 years younger. Part of or goal is to be in a place DW could handle if it comes to be that I go first. Again, this is new territory for us for sure.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Congrats! I hope it meets your expectations as to what it will be like living in a condo.

I had never lived in a condo until we bought a very nice penthouse 3000 sq ft condo with to-die-for views. After owning it for 6 years and living there for 4 years, I really wanted to move back to a single family home. Even though the units/building is super quiet, and it's built of steel, I missed the feeling of being "grounded". We moved back to living in a single family home in 2021. The best part of owning the condo was that it was a lock and leave for the 2 years after we bought it as we were still living out of state.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I think you will love it Jerry. I bought my condo 4 years ago and love it! I don’t have to do yard work but I can sit on my balcony and look at the beautiful courtyard. Ours were built in 1978 and are very soundproof. I have also made 6 friends in my building. Congrats!!!

 

[Koolau]

We've been very happy with condo life. It has its issues - which are different than the issues of a SFH. Big reason we went condo was price. For what we got, we saved a lot vs SFH.

I hope you enjoy your condo. Keep us posted!

 

[braumeister]

Currently living in the third condo I've bought in my life (in three different states), and they have all been great. I've never heard any of my neighbors, so the soundproofing they use is very effective.
Also, since I like to travel, the "lock and leave" aspect is wonderful -- makes travel worry-free.

 

[Dtail]

Congrats Jerry. Personally, I would not mind a condo, but the fiance likes the SFH much better. I can see moving possibly one last time into a condo down the road, but who knows.
I see the same concept here that for the lesser sq footage, the condos are more desirable.

 

[CaliKid]

We love our townhouse/condo. In fact, reminded one more reason why just yesterday. A friend was over who lives in our old neighborhood. They were having a fence issue with their neighbor - i.e. which contractor/which style/etc.... I said to them that was the kind of thing I don't have to worry about anymore!

 

[Dash man]

Congratulations! We love our Florida condo where we spend our winters, even though it has gotten very expensive (because it’s in Florida). We could happily live there full time if the boys and their families were there. We’re casually looking for a new SFH here in PA to downsize to that at least has the master bedroom on the first floor. At 68 this home is getting tougher to maintain.

 

[lakerunner]

We have considered condos at various times. My biggest "complaint" is parking. I don't want DW to have to walk across a parking lot or condo garage after dark. The only condos I tend to see with a dedicated garage are town houses. That brings steps.

 

[DJRR]

We went the condo route also. When you remodel remember to keep accessibility in mind. We installed grab bars in the bathrooms/showers/etc., walk/roll in shower, put up slots to easily drop in and out baby gates for the grand kids, put in a stair lift because my wife was looking at a knee replacement, etc. There are a lot of little things you can do now that will be helpful as you age.

 

[Jerry1]

We have considered condos at various times. My biggest "complaint" is parking. I don't want DW to have to walk across a parking lot or condo garage after dark. The only condos I tend to see with a dedicated garage are town houses. That brings steps.

This isn’t our exact unit but it’s the same model. Parking is our own two car garage. Though, what passes for a 2 car garage in some of these places leaves a lot to be desired. Ours is 20x21. I’ve seen them a bit under 19x19. I think getting my mid size suv and my full size truck in it will be a little tight. There is a single step to get from the garage into the house.

 

[pb4uski]

Congratulations Jerry. I liked condo living and miss our Florida condo but at the same time am glad that we sold when we did. I like that there was no yard work and the lock and leave aspect and that DW was more limited on the gardening projects which create mess and never seem to get finished.

It a different king of living but I prefer it to a SFH.

 

[pb4uski]

This isn’t our exact unit but it’s the same model. Parking is our own two car garage. Though, what passes for a 2 car garage in some of these places leaves a lot to be desired. Ours is 20x21. I’ve seen them a bit under 19x19. I think getting my mid size suv and my full size truck in it will be a little tight. There is a single step to get from the garage into the house.View attachment 55404

The last part can happen in SFH too. Our neighborhood was built in 2007 and one of our neighbors parks his truck in the driveway because it won't fit in his garage. While my small Maverick and golf cart will fit in our garage, it's not really comfortable, especially when compared to the 24x28 garage at our summer home.

 

[REWahoo]

This isn’t our exact unit but it’s the same model. Parking is our own two car garage. Though, what passes for a 2 car garage in some of these places leaves a lot to be desired. Ours is 20x21. I’ve seen them a bit under 19x19. I think getting my mid size suv and my full size truck in it will be a little tight. There is a single step to get from the garage into the house.

View attachment 55404

I don't think your 20x21 garage is going to work for a mid size SUV and full size truck. We had the same two vehicles and they were a very tight fit in our 24x26 garage. Even if you can get both of them in, having enough space to open doors an get in/out is going to be a real challenge.

 

[Jerry1]

I don't think your 20x21 garage is going to work for a mid size SUV and full size truck. We had the same two vehicles and they were a very tight fit in our 24x26 garage. Even if you can get both of them in, having enough space to open doors a get in/out is going to be a real challenge.

Thankfully, it’s not a requirement to get them in the garage. In time, I’ll probably get rid of my truck. It will be less useful given no yard work. However, I do like driving it and it hauls my golf clubs around real nice.

 

[MarieIG]

Congratulations! It really sounds beautiful Jerry. I really like the description and it is spacious which would be a requirement for me.

 

[EarlyandLate]

That looks wonderful Jerry! It is really more of an attached SFH than mine. I live in a mid-rise building that is concrete, steel and glass. It has more neighbor noise than you will have, but, honestly, I have become accustomed to it. I have two bits of advice. Read the condo documents carefully so that you don't get crosswise with the HOA with any remodeling. It's amazing to me how many new residents of our community are ignorant of the rules and get in trouble right away. The second bit of advice is an old Biblical standard. When getting to know the neighbors and board, "Be slow to speak and quick to listen". Enjoy your new home!

 

[Qs Laptop]

Way to go, Jerry! You found a new place that sounds perfect for you. Plus you get to redecorate and make it over to your liking.

You're right about SFH in that up to 2,000 square ft. size having large gathering spots and smaller bedrooms and bathrooms. There are a lot of pluses with the floor plans in condos and townhouses, like bedrooms separated from each other and bathrooms for each bedroom.

I wouldn't worry too much about being in a middle condo and the noise problem. You might want to try to find out if the builders put insulation or other noise blocking material inside (or on) the shared walls of the condos. Many times they do put sound insulation in these areas. If it's really a concern you could always put your own insulation in there during your remodel.

 

[gromit]

Nice looking condo.
When I downsized to a condo there were a few outdoor tools I still needed. Tools to plant small plants was an obvious need. The landscapers only trim bushes once or twice a year here, but I have a bush that needs trimming more frequently, so I bought a basic electric hedge trimmer for that. I also picked up a quiet battery powered blower to blow off the porch, sidewalk and driveway, if needed between the landscaper's weekly visits. Much easier than sweeping with a broom. For indoors, I kept my mechanical tools, but got rid of the saws, except for a handheld jigsaw.

 

[RetiredHappy]

This isn’t our exact unit but it’s the same model. Parking is our own two car garage. Though, what passes for a 2 car garage in some of these places leaves a lot to be desired. Ours is 20x21. I’ve seen them a bit under 19x19. I think getting my mid size suv and my full size truck in it will be a little tight. There is a single step to get from the garage into the house.

View attachment 55404

Beautiful! I can live in that! There are some condo like this where we moved from (another state). The condo which we bought was 4-story high and we occupied almost an entire side of the 4th story and had no steps.

 

[Lorenzo]

After living in a house all my life and on an acre or more for the past 35 years, at 64, I’m moving into a condo. It’s a significant life change for DW and I and we’re hopeful that we take well to it.

I think you're doing this the right way. DW and I did it backwards. We lived in condos/townhomes for many years and just in the past couple of years bought a single-family home with a big backyard where we can walk around and listen to the birds and, more importantly to us, indulge our gardening itch. I'm 62, and everything hurts my back. Sometimes I ask myself if we were crazy to make this move at our age, because condo living was so easy and carefree. But we're gonna do this for a few years and get it out of our system.

If you want a 1000 sq ft three bedroom brick ranch, there is plenty of them. But even as we got up to 2000 sq ft, the old style home just did not allocate space to the master bedroom suite. You get larger gathering spaces. Of course, you can go out and buy new, but we live in an older suburban area and the new houses are miles away and many dollars more expensive.

And that is very much the kind of home we moved into: a 2000 sq ft brick split-level with a small master bedroom and two tiny secondary bedrooms, just like thousands of other homes of the 1950s-1960s suburban sprawl era. But it was what we could afford with the proceeds from selling the condo. A new-build house anywhere in our metro area is over a million and still doesn't have space for a gardening hobby.